The ace left-hander has been on the trade block for a while and the Red Sox are considered potential front-runners to land Hamels. So from the moment the schedule was released, many speculated about the possibility Hamels would open 2015 against the Phillies.

"I had a pretty good idea I'd be in this ballpark," Hamels said with a smile.

For now, the three-time All-Star and 2008 World Series MVP remains on the rebuilding Phillies. By October, he could be pitching at Fenway Park.

"It is what it is," Hamels said about trade talk. "I don't get to control it as much as people actually think. It's not my decision. It's ultimately an organizational decision. I've been fortunate enough to be able to go out there and play baseball and do it for as long as I can, and that's all I can hope for. Whoever really wants me to pitch and go out and help the team win, that's all I can do."

Hamels will face a powerful offense that was reshaped by the free-agent additions of Sandoval and Ramirez. They join David Ortiz, Dustin Pedroia and former Phillies star Shane Victorino.

The Red Sox are hoping to repeat a feat they accomplished just two years ago when they went from worst in the AL East to World Series champions. They fell to 71-91 last season, but are counting on their offense to provide plenty of pop.

"We're trying to do it all over again, go from worst to first," Pedroia said. "We have a good group of guys, we worked hard in spring training and we're ready to go."

Boston's pitching staff lacks the same star power. Clay Buchholz is the No. 1 guy until Hamels or someone else arrives in a trade. The righty will make his first Opening Day start on Monday.

"I feel like I've done a lot of good work this offseason and just coming into camp and this spring. Still, there's going to be some adversity," Buchholz said. "But how you respond to that is another big factor in how the season goes."

Buchholz was 12-1 with a 1.74 ERA in 2013, but missed nearly three months with injuries. The Red Sox won three of his four starts in the postseason, but he posted a 4.35 ERA and didn't look the same. Buchholz struggled last year, going 8-11 with a 5.34 ERA.

Meanwhile, Hamels was 9-9 with a career-best 2.46 ERA in 2014.

The Red Sox failed to sign Jon Lester after trading him away last summer and haven't offered the Phillies the prospects they want for Hamels. They acquired Wade Miley, Rick Porcello and Justin Masterson to join Buchholz and Joe Kelly in the rotation.

"We want consistency and the guys we have will do that," Pedroia said. "It's going to be fun playing behind them."

•Phillies finalize roster: The Phillies finalized their Opening Day roster Sunday, selecting the contracts of outfielder Jeff Francoeur and infielder Andres Blanco and keeping Darin Ruf as an infielder.

The Phillies will carry seven infielders and four outfielders to start the season.

The 25-man roster features 12 pitchers and 13 position players. The Phillies will start the year with a four-man rotation, since they won't need a fifth starter until April 12. The eight-man bullpen will include righty Dustin McGowan, who was signed on Saturday after being released by the Dodgers.

Francoeur came to camp as a non-roster invitee, after signing a minor league deal in November. The 10-year veteran, who played 10 games for the Padres last season, won a job despite hitting .175 (7-for-40) with 10 strikeouts this spring.